
I visited this WHS in 2022 as a very comfortable stopover en route from Spis to Banska Stiavnica. The quite hidden quaint village of Vlkolinec is one of ten Slovak villages that have been offered protection for their folk architecture. Vlkolinec is an excellent example of folk countryside architecture of the Northern Carpathians region, untouched by modern construction. Even though an entrance fee is charged per person to visit the village (instead of a parking fee), people still live in it and as such is quite intact.
The walk from the parking area to the top of the village is at a very steep gradient, although there is a longer but less steep walk round the village leading to the area near the main well. After the first few wooden houses, houses 16 and 17 and a barn/stable have been converted into a folk museum with all the instruments of daily life and work. Originally Vlkolinec was a settlement of loggers, shepherds and farmers. Further up, there's a little 18th century wooden belfry next to a well and a small Baroque chapel which have been preserved. A canalized stream flows through the centre of the village. Nearby, another house has been converted into a sort of mini visitor centre with some information on bear hunting and conservation downstairs, and a few information boards on the WHS proper upstairs. There is a carved wooden UNESCO WHS plaque half way up the stairs and the UNESCO WHS certificate facsimile inside. Towards the upper area of the village there is quite a large cafeteria/restaurant serving delicious Slovak dishes/snacks and Czech beer.
Just behind it a small field has been converted into a small animal farm/zoo with local animals such as chipmonks, weasels, goats, ibex, poultry, geese, etc. The overall condition of the wooden houses is very good and in much a better state than in Holloko, Hungary. The craftsmanship involved in building and maintaining the wooden folk architecture is impressive. Most of the houses' facades overlooking the main road have been painted in different bright colours. However, by simply walking to the sides of these log houses (where allowed; since many locals have closed off their property and clearly indicate where you would be trespassing hence not welcome to "visit"), you'll be able to appreciate the folk architecture better and how some of the logs are seamlessly joined together without the use of nails.
Vlkolínec is included in the National Park of Velka Fatra. A cyclist route crosses it and owners of several private houses offer accommodation although staying overnight isn't at all necessary as it can easily be covered in less than 30 minutes if you're short of time. An interesting folk event called "Sunday in Vlkolínec" is organised every summer at the beginning of August. Although there isn't any particular single highlight to point out, the village as a whole and its level of authenticity and lack of modern construction, won me over and I really enjoyed my visit. It is yet another site I would never have visited or even heard about probably, were it not for the WH list.
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